Defense is arguably the toughest facet of our game. The super experts seem to always get it right. No, they are not geniuses, but they have strict ‘agreements and understandings,’ even on defense. This month’s hand highlights an easy and very effective defensive technique: present count.
| The Bidding: | N | E | S | W |
| 1NT | Pass | |||
| 3N | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Opening lead: ♠ 2
As East and West, can you defeat the contract?
NORTH
♠ 7 4
♥ J 8
♦ K Q 9 6
♣ A K J 9 6
WEST
♠ A 10 8 2
♥ 9 6 5 3
♦ 10 5
♣ 8 7 4
EAST
♠ K J 3
♥ A 10 7
♦ J 8 4 2
♣ 5 3 2
SOUTH
♠ Q 9 6 5
♥ K Q 4 2
♦ A 7 3
♣ Q 10
The Play
1. Partner leads the ♠ 2 (fourth best).
2. As East, you win the King.
3. Which ♠ as East should you return?
4. Present count dictates the Jack. A. You have played the King, leaving the Jack and the 3. We play high/low to show an even number left. Hence the Jack. B. Had we had the K J 6 3, we would return the 3, showing an odd number (three) left.
5. West realizes that declarer started with four ♠s when they played the Queen. Had East played the 3 back (showing four), West would know that all the ♠s would cash.
6. Winning the ♠ Ace, West switches to dummy’s weakest suit – ♥s. Partner can lead ♠s through declarer again.
7. East wins the ♥ Ace and continues ♠s through to West’s 10 and 8.
8. Four ♠s and one ♥ equals five tricks for the defenders. Down one.
Well-defended! Put present count in your arsenal.
[tip of the day]
Q. Kenny, my partner and I always hear players talk about ‘present count’ when they defend. Can you explain this concept?
A. Present count is the accepted way to determine how many cards your partner holds in a suit that you have led. Standard carding high/low shows an even number of cards in the suit led. Low/high designates an odd number. By using present count, especially in no trump, your partner can determine the number of cards held by declarer in the suit led.
By Kenneth Bland
Photo by Collin Miller of Strauss Peyton
